Compact diffuser

Abstract

A diffuser assembly includes a housing that defines an internal chamber having an open end, a return air outlet, and a supply air inlet; a cover sized to cover the open end, wherein the cover defines a return air inlet and a supply air outlet; and an internal return air duct longitudinally extending within the internal chamber and connecting the return air inlet and the return air outlet, wherein the internal return air duct includes an inner duct surface that defines a return air chamber within the internal return air duct and an outer duct surface that defines a supply air chamber between the housing and the outer duct surface, wherein the supply air chamber defines a supply air path between the supply air inlet and the supply air outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A diffuser assembly, comprising:
 a housing comprising a first wall and a plurality of second walls extending from the first wall to define an internal chamber of the housing, wherein the first wall comprises a return air outlet formed therein, each second wall of the plurality of second walls is exposed to the internal chamber and defines an outer boundary of the housing, a second wall of the plurality of second walls comprises a supply air inlet formed therein, and the internal chamber comprises an open end; 
 a cover sized to cover the open end, wherein the cover defines a return air inlet and a supply air outlet; and 
 an internal return air duct longitudinally extending within the internal chamber to define a substantially straight return air flow path from the return air inlet to the return air outlet, wherein the internal return air duct includes an inner duct surface that defines the substantially straight return air flow path and includes an outer duct surface that defines a supply air chamber between the first wall, the plurality of second walls, and the outer duct surface, wherein the supply air chamber defines a supply air flow path between the supply air inlet and the supply air outlet, 
 wherein the internal return air duct comprises an opening to discharge return air from the internal return air duct via the substantially straight return air flow path, and wherein a first central axis of a first cross-section of the opening of the internal return air duct is aligned with a second central axis of a second cross-section of the return air outlet formed in the first wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a closed end opposite the open end, and wherein the closed end and the cover extend in substantially parallel planes. 
     
     
       3. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a first internal grill wall and a second internal grill wall, wherein the first internal grill wall defines the return air inlet, and wherein the second internal grill wall defines the supply air outlet. 
     
     
       4. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the cover extend in substantially parallel planes. 
     
     
       5. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall of the plurality of second walls is positioned substantially perpendicular to the cover such that the supply air flow path has a first direction at the supply air inlet that is substantially perpendicular to a second direction at the supply air outlet. 
     
     
       6. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the supply air flow path is unobstructed within the supply air chamber. 
     
     
       7. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the internal return air duct is concentrically positioned within the housing. 
     
     
       8. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the internal return air duct has a circular cross-section along a plane orthogonal to the substantially straight return air flow path defined by the internal return air duct. 
     
     
       9. The diffuser assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the return air outlet is circular. 
     
     
       10. The diffuser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing or the internal return air duct comprises a sheet metal material or a fiberglass material. 
     
     
       11. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 an air handling unit; and 
 a diffuser assembly connected to the air handling unit via a supply air duct and a return air duct, wherein the diffuser assembly comprises:
 a housing comprising a first wall and a plurality of second walls extending from the first wall to define an internal chamber of the housing, wherein the plurality of second walls extends from the internal chamber to an outer boundary of the housing, the first wall comprises a return air outlet formed therein, a second wall of the plurality of second walls comprises a supply air inlet formed therein, and the internal chamber comprises an open end; 
 a cover sized to cover the open end, wherein the cover defines a return air inlet and a supply air outlet; and 
 an internal return air duct longitudinally extending within the internal chamber to define a substantially straight return air flow path from the return air inlet to the return air outlet, wherein the internal return air duct includes an inner duct surface that defines the substantially straight return air flow path and includes an outer duct surface that defines a supply air chamber between the first wall, the plurality of second walls, and the outer duct surface, wherein the supply air chamber defines a supply air flow path between the supply air inlet and the supply air outlet, 
 
 wherein each second wall of the plurality of second walls comprises a first surface that is exposed to the internal chamber and a second surface that defines the outer boundary of the housing, and 
 wherein the cover abuts the second surface of each second wall of the plurality of second walls. 
 
     
     
       12. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the cover includes a first internal grill wall and a second internal grill wall, wherein the first internal grill wall defines the return air inlet, and wherein the second internal grill wall defines the supply air outlet. 
     
     
       13. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall and the cover extend in substantially parallel planes. 
     
     
       14. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the second wall of the plurality of second walls is positioned substantially perpendicular to the cover such that the supply air flow path has a first direction at the supply air inlet that is substantially perpendicular to a second direction at the supply air outlet. 
     
     
       15. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the supply air flow path is unobstructed within the supply air chamber. 
     
     
       16. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the internal return air duct is concentrically positioned within the housing. 
     
     
       17. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the internal return air duct has a circular cross-section along a plane orthogonal to the substantially straight return air flow path defined by the internal return air duct, and wherein the return air outlet is circular. 
     
     
       18. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the housing or the internal return air duct comprises a sheet metal material or a fiberglass material. 
     
     
       19. The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the second surface faces away from the first surface and is exposed to an environment exterior to the internal chamber. 
     
     
       20. A diffuser assembly kit, comprising:
 a housing comprising a first wall and a plurality of second walls extending from the first wall to define an internal chamber of the housing, wherein the first wall comprises a return air outlet formed therein, a second wall of the plurality of second walls comprises a supply air inlet formed therein, and the internal chamber comprises an open end; 
 a cover sized and engageable to cover the open end, wherein the cover defines a return air inlet and a supply air outlet; and 
 an internal return air duct longitudinally extendable within the internal chamber to define a substantially straight return air flow path from the return air inlet to the return air outlet, wherein the internal return air duct includes an inner duct surface that is positionable to define the substantially straight return air flow path and includes an outer duct surface that is positionable to define a supply air chamber between the first wall, the plurality of second walls, and the outer duct surface, wherein the supply air chamber defines a supply air flow path between the supply air inlet and the supply air outlet, and the first wall of the housing encompasses and abuts the outer duct surface of the internal return air duct about an entire perimeter of the outer duct surface.